If the Book of Mormon is true, it is, next to the Bible, the most important book in the world. This fact has been appreciated by the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and by them alone. Their leaders and teachers have defended the authenticity of the book with great earnestness and power. No fair-minded man can read the works of Orson Pratt (perhaps the ablest of all the Mormon advocates), and of Brigham H. Roberts, who, in his "New Witnesses for God," has replied to more recent criticism, without being impressed with their conviction of the truth and value of the Book of Mormon, and their deep sense of duty to persuade others to accept their conclusions. If this book is what it claims to be it throws light upon matters of the first importance.

At the present time, when New Testament scholars, with better linguistic and historic equipment than ever before, are studying the life and teachings of Jesus, the record of His appearance to the Nephites and the version of His teachings preserved by the Nephite scribes would be of great value. A flood of light would be thrown upon the whole question of Church origins if the account of the organization of the Church in the new world, described in the Book of Mormon, were similar to that in the old. The value of the Book of Mormon to the archaeologist would be equally great. If this Nephite record be true, we have an account of the civilization in the North and Central and South Americas from "The earliest ages after the Flood to the beginning of the Fifth Century of the Christian Era." The Book of Mormon, were it shown to be true, would give important information to Scientists. The account of the convulsions of nature, which occurred in America at the time of Christ's coming, would compel the geologist to reexamine his theories as to the formation of land and sea, and the astronomer to adjust his laws of the heavens to the wonderful three days' darkness. The botanist and zoologist would have to rewrite the account of the flora and fauna of America. It is not to be wondered, therefore, that those who believe in the truth of this book have been faithful in urging its claim to serious attention.

On the other hand it is inexcusable that the book has never had the serious examination which its importance demands. Professor Orson Pratt was not far from correct when he wrote : "The great majority of the world, however, reject the Book of Mormon without the least examination as to its claims. They have heard that there was such a book, but they know nothing of its contents, only that it claims to be a divine revelation. They at once reject it as an imposture." He says, moreover:
"This book must be either true or false. If true, it is one of the most important messages ever sent from God to man, affecting both the temporal and eternal interests of every people under heaven to the same extent and in the same degree that the message of Noah affected the inhabitants of the old world. If false, it is one of the most cunning, wicked, bold, deep-laid impositions ever palmed upon the world, calculated to deceive and ruin millions who would sincerely receive it as the word of God.”

The dilemma accepted for the book is also accepted for its author. If Joseph Smith is not a true prophet of God he must be an impostor — was a position frankly accepted by this and other writers. As a result it was inevitable that the whole discussion should descend to personalities. Those who attacked the Mormons felt moved to publish everything they could discover or invent to the discredit of "Joe Smith" and his parents, while those who believed in him replied with a partisan record of virtues of life, and miracles of power. A rather careful reading of the controversy leads this writer to the conclusion that the Latter-day Saints set an example of dignity and courtesy which their opponents rarely followed. And yet, in the adoption of this unfair method, critics of Mormonism were but following the example of other defenders of their faith against novelty in religion.

If the Book of Mormon was not a correct translation, and yet Joseph Smith thought that it came to him by inspiration and revelation from God, thoughtful men cannot be asked to accept other revelations which Joseph Smith, Jr., asserted were also given to him by the Deity. If he was self-deceived in regard to his first and most extensive work, how can we be sure he was not also self-deceived in regard to later supposed communications from the Almighty? These questions are most critical, and yet, if the thoughtful Latter-day Saints of today are like those of the past, they will welcome them, because they have always invited investigation.

In a discourse delivered in the Tabernacle at Logan, Utah, Sunday evening, April 2, 1911, reported by Mr. F. E. Barker for the June, 1911, number of "The Improvement Era," Elder Brigham Roberts, perhaps the most candid and able of the living defenders of Mormonism, made this matter clear. After quoting from a pamphlet entitled "The Bible and the Book of Mormon" by Rev. Paul Jones, of St. John's Church, Logan, Utah, a statement of his own, that the Book of Mormon of necessity must submit to every test, to literary criticism as well as to every other kind of criticism, Mr. Roberts said:

“I am willing to repeat my statement that the Book of Mormon must submit to every test — literary criticism with the rest. Indeed, it must submit to every analysis and examination. It must submit to historical tests, to the tests of archaeological research, and also to the higher criticism. And, what is more, in the midst of it all, its advocates must carry themselves in a spirit of patience and of courage; and that they will do just as long, of course, as their faith remains true to the book. For many years, after a rather rigid analysis, as I think, of the evidence bearing upon the truth of the Book of Mormon, I have reached through some stress and struggle, too, an absolute conviction of its truth. The Book is flung down into the world's mass of literature, and here it is; we proclaim it true, and the world has the right to test it to the uttermost in every possible way."

So my test & review of the BoM per the instructions of the missionaries, resulted in a firm and total rejection. Since the publication of the Book of Mormon, Mormon archaeologists have attempted to find archaeological evidence to support it. Although historians and archaeologists consider the book to be an anachronistic invention of Joseph Smith, many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints LDS Church and other denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement believe that it describes ancient historical events in the Americas. The Book of Mormon principally describes God's dealings with two civilizations in the Americas over the course of several hundred years. The book primarily deals with the Nephites and the Lamanites , who - it states - existed in the Americas from about 600 BC to about 400 AD It also deals with the rise and fall of the Jaredite nation , which the Book of Mormon says came from the Old World shortly after the confounding of the languages at the Tower of Babel. The Book of Mormon mentions several animals, plants, and technologies that are not substantiated by the archaeological record of the period BC to AD in the Americas. Some earlyth century Mormons claimed various archaeological findings such as place names, and ruins of the Inca , Maya , Olmec , and other ancient American and Old World civilizations as giving vane credence to the Book of Mormon record.

The bad English in the book of Mormon is very noticeable. Here are some examples of it : Some of the brethren "did rebel against us ; yea, against I, Nephi, and Sam." This name Sam, by the way, sounds very modern. Nephi in course of time began to build a ship, and "did make tools of the ore which I did molten out of the rock." "And now there cannot be written in this book even a hundredth part of the things which Jesus did truly teach unto the people. . . . Behold I were about to write them all . . . but the Lord forbid it." "And when Moroni had said these words, he went forth among the people, waving the rent of his garment in the air, that all might see the writ- ing which he had wrote upon the rent!!!" Besides being very bad English, this sounds indecent. Certainly it is quite ridiculous. And then to think of writing upon a rent! Again, "There were no robbers nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, or any manner of ites!!!" "Yea, this bringeth about the restoration of those things of which have been spoken by the mouths of the prophets." "I say unto thee, my son, that the plan of restoration is requisite (?) with the justice of God." "And now behold I say unto you, that ye had ought to search these things diligently." This last is a complete betrayal of the author. No one but a down East Yankee like Joseph Smith ever said "had ought."

And so I might use many other illustrations to show the modern origin of the Book of Mormon. But these will suffice. Through it all it is easy to recognize the hand of Sidney Rigdon, in its scriptural quotations and its doctrinal turn; and the hand of Joseph Smith, in its modern phraseology and its ungrammatical expressions.

On the title page of the first edition of the Book of Mormon was the inscription, "Joseph Smith, Author and Proprietor." This told the truth, but only part of the truth. Solomon Spaulding and Sidney Rigdon deserved to share with him the honor.

After the facts which I have given above, I feel sure that you are as ready to join with me in declaring that the Book of Mormon, with all of its involved sentences, its crude notions, its grotesque representations, its improbable and often impossible stories, its absurd and ridiculous statements, its childish fancies, its geographical errors, its modern phraseology and its ungrammatical expressions is a fraud of the deepest dye. My conclusion of his book: "My whole soul is moved, profoundly moved, in this matter. I believe with all my heart, I am forced by irresistible logic to believe, that the Book of Mormon is a fraud." In other words "a miserable fraud, a book to be execrated and hated by all good men who love the truth." BoM is "full of blunders and mistakes and contradictions, and human imperfetions from beginning to end." And again, "The angel that dictated this book has been over and over again proven to be ignorant, self-conceited, visionary; given to exaggeration; forgetting important matters of record, and making numberless mistakes."

Thank you for preserving this valuable piece of history. A First-Edition Book of Mormon from 1830, although stained and tattered, is a very important piece of history.

I know of my own testimony from God, along with millions of others, that this book is as true as the Holy Bible. It does nothing but testify of Jesus Christ and gives more of His Word. Nothing in this book conflicts with or contradicts anything given in the Bible.

Jesus warned those who murmur against this book, saying "we have already got a Bible":

"Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews?

Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?

Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also.

And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever.

Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written." (2 Nephi 29:6-10)

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Also, I think MDarksMLS, who gave this book a sarcastic and derisive review, would do well to remember that his words shall be remembered at the last day.

In this very book, which Moroni was afraid we would mock, the Lord Jesus Christ comforted him by saying: "Fools mock, but they shall mourn." (Ether 12:26)

Beware, all you who mock the words of these prophets, for you shall mourn unless you speedily repent.

This is clearly the "most correct of any book on earth" and I can't imagine them then needing to make any corrections to it in future editions.
www.utlm.org/onlinebooks/3913intro.htm

That being said this is a pretty good work of fiction but some of the parts seem to be written to be taken literally but it's just such a mish-mash of stories; not very appealing. More like a bad fanfiction of biblical stories.